Karuizawa 1986, Bot. 2002, Cask No. 4988

Colour: gold. Nose: no obvious sherry influence this time, rather more almonds and vanilla. A tad bourbonny. Quite fresh but once again, it’s ultra-powerful so water is needed. With water: not much development this time. Maybe more flints and a faint earthiness. Grass. Mouth (neat): once again, a very powerful attack, on sweet vanilla and apple jelly. Some oranges as well, lemon honey… It’s a very nervous one. With water: not unlike the 1988, only with more oak and less roundness at this point. Citrons. Finish: long, the oak getting bigger in the aftertaste (a lot of pepper), closer to the 1987. Quite tannic. Comments: ‘wood technology inside’. Fresh oak?SGP:451 - 81 points.